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虽然……，但是…… — although
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Expensive but good
- You bought a pair of shoes that cost a lot. You still think they were worth it.
- although虽然这双鞋very很expensive贵，but但是very很good-looking好看。 — "Although these shoes are expensive, they look great."
although虽然……，but但是……
- although虽然 introduces a fact you accept; but但是 gives the contrasting point: although虽然very很tired累，but但是very很happy高兴, tired but happy.
- Chinese uses both words together. English uses only “although” or only “but”.
although虽然very很tired累，but但是very很happy高兴。
Complete: “Although I’m tired, I’m happy.” 虽然很累，____很高兴。
Difficulté 1/5 · 100 pièces + un petit bonus lors de la première réussite aujourd'hui
但是 (or 可是) gives the contrasting point after 虽然.
Build: “Although these shoes are expensive, they look great.”
Difficulté 3/5 · 200 pièces + un petit bonus lors de la première réussite aujourd'hui
虽然 + accepted fact, 但是 + contrasting point.
Where although虽然 goes
- although虽然 can come before or after the subject: although虽然he他very很busy忙，but但是he他every day每天study学习。 or he他although虽然very很busy忙，but但是every day每天study学习。 — "Although he is busy, he studies every day."
- but但是 always starts the second clause. but可是 is a common spoken alternative.
he他although虽然very很busy忙，but但是every day每天study学习。
他虽然很忙，但是每天学习 is correct, with 虽然 after the subject.
Difficulté 1/5 · 100 pièces + un petit bonus lors de la première réussite aujourd'hui
True. 虽然 can come before or after the subject.
Choosing the two parts
- The second part should be surprising given the first: although虽然to rain下雨(completed / change)了，but但是we / us我们still / also还to go去park (for public recreation)公园, it rained, but we still went to the park.
- still / also还 or also也 often appears after the subject in the second part to stress “still”.
Watch out
- Do not use although虽然 with so / therefore所以. so / therefore所以 shows a result, not a contrast: although虽然to rain下雨(completed / change)了，but但是……, not although虽然to rain下雨(completed / change)了，so / therefore所以…….
- but但是 starts the second clause; it cannot come before although虽然.
It rained, but you still went to the park. Which fits?
Difficulté 1/5 · 100 pièces + un petit bonus lors de la première réussite aujourd'hui
虽然 pairs with 但是 for a contrast. 所以 shows a result, and 但是 cannot come before 虽然.
Recap
- although虽然 A，but但是 B = although A, B: a contrast between an accepted fact and a surprising point.
- although虽然 can go before or after the subject; but但是 (or but可是) starts the second clause. Never pair although虽然 with so / therefore所以.
Describe something you did recently that had a downside but was still worth it. Close the examples. Say two sentences with 虽然……但是, then write them in Chinese.
Compare meaning and word order with the model; your sentences need not copy it. A partner or teacher must hear the spoken version to comment on pronunciation.